The Opelousas courier., 1887-05-07

FOREIGN FRUITS.
How They are Brought t
New York by "Tramps.o
An Important Industry and the Manner /
Carrying It On.
Fruit from the Mediterranean, says th
New York Telegram, is usually carriet
in tramp steamers, although there ar
n or two regular lines of steamers ply.
ing between this port and the grea
orange growing centres of Southern
/, Europe. Tie fruit is shipped in yer.
large quantities, not i~nfrequently a
many as 90, 900 boxes of oranges and
lemons being shipped in n vessel
Long voyages are oftener tht
rule than otherwise, as the vesse
generally makes stops at all the fruit
centres, seldom receiving a full cargo al
any single port. Thus the fruit taken
aboard at the first stopping place often
lies in the vessels hold for 80 days. This
is seldom injurious, as these vessels are
not warm, the quantity Of fuel necessary
to propel them being small. All Of the
Mediterranean fruit is sold at auction,
and when the vessel arrives at this port
the cargois not discharged before the
selling day decided upon by the con-
signees of the fruit. The longs hore
men who engage in discharging the
cargo of a fruiter must be intelligent
and thoroughly understand their bust
ness. The boxes, as they come from
the vessels hold, must be sorted, and o
separate pile or tier made of each line
or mark. This not only gives the job
bers a chance to sec all of one line but
also facilitates delivery.
Several boxes OF each line, according
to the whole number in the line, are
opened on the dock and shown as sam
/ Is. Before the iobbcrs arrive at the
deck md spoil it, the sight is a pretty
one. The long and even rows of boxes
standing on end, with the bright coll
ored tissue paper, with which the fruit
is wrapped and the boxes lined, hanging
over, the sides, make a sight worth a trip
the dirty river front streets to
To see it one must be on hand
as when the prospective buyers
lrrive a transformation takes place. The
boxes are hauled around, the fruit is dis
.ributed and the handsome paper torn
md trampled On. Until eleven o'clock
he scene is an animated one, the jobbers
,oing over the piles of boxes in a most
borough manner. Everything is noted,
nd on the margin of the catalogue he
arries, the prospective buyer maSes
h~ieroglyphics which no one else can
Understand, but when he sits in the auc-
the It'll, marks advise him of
is estimate of the value of the differ.
Mt lines.
Oranges and lemons are sold at auc-
ION in lots of twenty boxes and over.
he buyer cannot select the boxes.
ut is compelled to take them
lst as they come. But, as FREE
uently happens, some superior fruit
be found on cne-half of the
er. the purchaser is permitted to elect
which end of a pile he will take his
pods. This is all the selection a buyer
allowed. New Workers consume but
comparatively small quantity OF the
iportation, a very large proportion
ling sent to inland cities. Much of
e fruit is sent over the bo1der. into
Oftcntimes before being
tipped out of town the fruit must be
.oroughly overhauled and repacked.
ne trade in Valencia oranges and
grapes is carried on in the same
amer.
Until within a comparatively few I
ars the Mediterranean fruit trade was {
the hands of New York merchants. !
t some Of the Italian producers sent 9
sons here TO learn the business in t
: offices Of their agents, and when
y had become thoroughly versed in D
, trade they embarked in business for 9
smselves, and now they control the Q
de almost to the exclusion of the b
.aericans. Tho fruit importing bust q
y is not alone important to the t
reliant who engages in il, but to the b
lited States is q very important indus Z
The government receives several II
lion dollars annually il revenues from b
: business q duty of twenty per cent. n
charged. Every year the trade t
until now it is not improba- v
that another auction house will be Il
med to compete with the one already 81
ablished, and which for many years 81
enjoyed 9 monopoly Of the business.
Rich CoIored Women.
richest colored woman III America .
rra Amanaa j.